Pac-12 Notebook: Cantu surprised to become head coach

Not long after USC landed back in Los Angeles after snapping a 14-game road losing streak with a 76-59 win at Utah Saturday, head coach Kevin O'Neill was fired.

It came as a shock to interim coach Bob Cantu when Trojans athletic director Pat Haden called and asked if he would step in. Stunned, Cantu was explaining to the Trojans (7-10 overall, 2-2 Pac-12) 30 minutes later that he was the new coach.

A midseason coaching change in basketball is rare and dramatic. O'Neill had struggled in his four years at USC, when he was 48-65 overall. The Trojans were 6-26 last season during an injury-filled season.

"Anytime you change the voice for any team at any level, it's completely different," Cantu said. "My message to the guys was life is about adversity. You never know when something is going to happen. How are you going to adjust to this?"

Cantu plans on giving talented J.T. Terrell, who clashed with O'Neill, more freedom in the offense. He also said the Trojans will play more zone and attempt to run more.

Though his title as head coach is new for Cantu at USC, it's not a large leap. He's been at the school for 12 years and had the title of associate coach prior to O'Neill's departure.

"He's been so good to me. I'm so thankful to him," Cantu said of O'Neill. "I was here when he got the job and he kept me on the staff and promoted me to associate coach," Cantu said. "I would never be in position to be interim coach if it wasn't for that."

"Washington is playing great right now," Howland said. "Washington, to me, is leading the league. They have three wins and they're all on the road."

One of those wins was a rather easy one over Mike Montgomery's Cal team62-47last week. Montgomery did an impressive thing in his assessment of Washington: in one statement, he questioned Washington's success and the ability of his own team.

"They've got really good players, it's not like they don't have players," Montgomery said. "They're not bad. They have three road breakthroughs, but it remains to be seen if those road breakthroughs are against the premier teams. They still have got to play the better teams in the league.

"It remains to be seen. I don't know if they're a top-three team, but they have three road breakthroughs, that's pretty good."

Also

Washington and Washington State flew back home then back to the Bay Area in the middle of last week's road trips. Colorado will stay in the Northwest throughout its week with Wednesday and Saturday road games in Washington state. Utah will fly home in between stops in Pullman and Seattle. Schools are still trying to figure out the best way to navigate late starts caused by the Pac-12 Network television schedule. ... Oregon State head coach Craig Robinson said suspended players Eric Moreland and Victor Robbins will be reinstated Saturday. The two were suspended indefinitely for a violation of team rules Jan. 11. ... Washington State head coach Ken Bone said the Cougars need to give Brock Motum some offensive help. He said Mike Ladd has been more assertive of late, but wants DaVonte Lacy, Royce Woolridge and Dexter Kernich-Drew to help Motum out.